Dealer David Donaldson Antiques of Orlando, Fl provides his thoughts on misattribution by mismarking pieces of glass. Mr. Donaldson is an expert on Tiffany and will be a presenter at this year’s Symposium of the Carder Steuben Club comparing Frederick Carder and LC Tiffany.

Frederick Carder: Influence and Inspiration
2009 Carder Steuben Club Symposium
Co-sponsored by The Corning Museum of Glass
October 2 and 3, 2009
Corning, New York

Mr. Donaldson says:
Over the course of my career, I as many folks like me have certainly seen a fair share of attempts at “$$$ bamboozlement”. My earliest recollection was a West German red stretch vase signed “L. C. Tiffany” in a shop outside Madison, WI. I wasn’t sure who made it, but certainly not Tiffany…..I later discovered it in the 2nd volume of Confusing Collectibles when I went to work at the museum in Corning. Shortly thereafter, Bob Rockwell Sr. showed me a Cambridge goblet in his dept. store office which had been mistakenly signed “STEUBEN / F. Carder” by Mr. Carder. Bob explained that it was most likely one which was brought to him when he was very elderly and his eyesight was failing.

My move to the Morse museum in Winter Park, Florida brought a new chapter of enhanced and wounded glass to my “journal” of glass experiences. An old friend here has an unsigned Steuben ACB vase (Black Jade over Rosa?) signed “Daum” on the side near the base. The Morse museum has a large green double “M” handle footed European vase signed “Loetz”, a lovely footed unsigned Loetz vase with a rolled top rim signed “Quezal”, and last but not least, a large Steuben Blue Aurene vase ( #938 ) signed “L. C. Tiffany-Favrile”. It is quite frankly, one of the best fake signatures I have encountered to date. I am certain that the extent of this area is vast and could be a great study for a light hearted lecture with all members contributing to its success.

Regards,
David P. Donaldson, MFA